ORNAMENTS OF METAL.
Notwithstanding that it was often used for implements, copper seems
to have been most highly valued by the mound-builders for purposes
of ornament. The supposition is based upon the fact that ornaments
of this metal are comparatively abundant. They are found of many
varieties, comprising bracelets, pendants, beads, gorgets, etc., some
of which display no inconsiderable degree of skill.
[Illustration: Fig. 88.]
The «bracelets» are usually found encircling the arms of the
skeletons, in the sepulchral mounds, but are not infrequent upon
the altars. They consist of a simple rod of copper, hammered out
with more or less skill, and so bent that the ends approach, or lap
over, each other. Those which have been deposited under unfavorable
circumstances are generally much corroded and appear ragged and rude.
But some are found which are extremely well wrought. Such was the
case with those obtained from a mound, within an enclosure, three
miles above Chillicothe, (see page 156,) three of which of full
size are shown in the engraving. These are smoothly and uniformly
hammered, and seem to have been originally highly polished. They
are bent with perfect regularity; and, it is a singular fact, are
of uniform size and weight. They measure, between [p205] the outer
surfaces, two inches and nine tenths,—between the inner surfaces,
two and a half inches in diameter; and weigh four ounces each. They
correspond exactly with some of the ruder ones, of the same metal,
found in the tombs of the ancient Egyptians. They were but partially
bent together before being placed upon the arm, after which they were
closed as nearly as practicable.
[Illustration: Fig. 89.]
The ornaments denominated, for want of a better name, «gorgets», are
frequently found, but only, so far as observed, with skeletons, in
the sepulchral mounds. An engraving of one of these is presented,
(Fig. 89,) which exhibits their general form. The original, in this
instance, measures eight and a half inches at the lower, and seven
and a half at the upper edge, and is four and a quarter inches
broad. It weighs five ounces. This is considerably above the average
dimensions. They are usually about the thickness of ordinary sheet
copper; and are always perforated with two holes, placed at equal
distances from the ends and somewhat above the longitudinal centre,
as shown in the engraving. This feature, and the fact that they are
uniformly found with skeletons, suggest that they were suspended
around the neck, resting upon the breast. There is one circumstance,
however, that seems inconsistent with this conclusion, namely, that
none of the holes exhibit the slightest elongation from wear. On the
contrary, their edges are sharp as if newly cut. Such could not have
been the case with articles of this soft material and extraordinary
thinness, had they been suspended in the manner suggested. The holes
in the little silver crosses, found in the graves of the modern
Indians, are frequently worn so as to be nearly a fourth of an inch
in length; and yet they weigh less than half an ounce, and are cut
out of thicker plates of metal than the broad copper ornaments here
mentioned. Either these plates were worn only on extraordinary
occasions, or in such a manner that little or no friction was
produced by the cords by which they were sustained or fastened.[131]
[p206]
[Illustration: Fig. 90.]
Fig. 90 represents an ornament, of something the same character with
the above. It is formed of a copper plate of considerable thickness,
which has been fashioned so as to present a convex surface. It is
also perforated with two holes, and is identical in this respect, as
well as in shape, with a large class of stone ornaments or implements
found in the mounds, and of which notice will be taken in another
place.
[Illustration: Fig. 91.]
A large number of «discs» or medals of copper have been obtained
from the mounds. They resemble, to use a familiar illustration, the
«bosses» observed on harnesses. Some of these are not less than
two inches, but most are about one inch and a half in diameter.
They are formed of thin plates of copper, are perfectly round, and
concavo-convex in shape. They are found only on the altar-mounds,
where they seem to have been placed with their edges together, in
pairs. Owing to the great heat to which they have been subjected,
and subsequent oxydation, nearly all of them are so cemented
together that they cannot be separated without breaking them into
fragments. Their present appearance is very well exhibited by Fig.
91. Some of them, of more elaborate workmanship than the rest, and
which have been more favorably situated for preservation, have been
separated.[132]
[Illustration: Fig. 92.]
These articles, it will be observed, display more skill in working
the metal, than any of those previously noticed. They present every
appearance of having been «pressed» into shape, in the way in which
similar articles are formed at this day. In opening one of the
mounds, a block of compact sandstone was discovered, [p207] Fig.
92, in which were several circular depressions, in all respects
resembling those in the work-blocks of copper-smiths, in which plates
of metal are hammered to give them convexity. These depressions are
of various dimensions, and are evidently artificial. It seems more
than probable it was in such moulds that these articles were formed.
This block weighs between thirty and forty pounds.
[Illustration: Fig. 93.]
Small tubes of copper, formed by wrapping together thin slips of that
metal, are often found. They are not soldered, and though the edges
overlap each other very closely, they can easily be separated with
the blade of a knife. They were doubtless strung as beads. Another
variety of beads, made of coarse copper wire, closely wound and
hammered together, are occasionally found.
[Illustration: Fig. 94.]
Among the articles that exhibit the greatest degree of skill in
their manufacture, may be mentioned a sort of «boss» or «button»,
several of which are shown in the engraving. These present a convex
and a plane surface, and are identical in form with some of the
old-fashioned buttons which still linger on the small clothes of our
grandfathers. They are hollow; a portion of them are perforated from
the sides, but most have the holes through which passed the thread,
by which they were strung or attached, in the base. They bear a
resemblance to some forms of the ancient «fibulæ».
In addition to these, many small tubes, bands, and articles of
wrought copper of various kinds have been found, the purposes of
which are not apparent, and which it would be tedious to describe.
Greatly reduced sketches of several of these are herewith presented.
[Illustration: Fig. 95.]
The metal was sometimes very ingeniously used in repairing broken
articles of stone, etc., as will shortly be seen. One or two stone
pipes have been discovered which seem to have been completely
encased, so as to present an unbroken metallic surface. The
overlapping edges, in these cases, were so polished down as scarcely
to be discoverable.
Silver, as has already been remarked, seems to have been possessed
in very small quantities by the mound-builders. Indeed, within the
entire range of these investigations, it has been discovered in but
a single instance,—namely, in the remarkable “pipe mound,” numbered
8 in the plan of “Mound City.” It was here found, reduced to extreme
thinness, (not exceeding in thickness ordinary foolscap paper,) and
plated, or rather wrapped, over sundry copper beads and a few other
ornaments of the same material. The whole amount discovered would
probably not exceed an ounce in weight.
[Illustration: Fig. 96.]
From the mound above mentioned were taken a number of large beads,
the size and shape of which are accurately shown in the accompanying
engraving. They are composed of shell, now completely calcined,
and seem to have been carefully enveloped with sheet copper and
afterwards with thin slips of [p208] silver, so as to completely
cover the surface. Some of the beads exhibit both the copper and
silver partially melted off. The heat of the fire, upon the altar
where they were found, had been sufficiently intense, towards the
centre, to melt considerable masses of copper.
Besides these beads, several star-shaped ornaments were found.
They are also composed of shell, bound together by an envelope of
sheet copper, over which the silver slips are carefully folded, so
as to leave their overlapping edges scarcely perceptible. A small
hole passed through the centre of these unique ornaments, by which
they were fastened in such positions as the taste of the possessor
suggested.
[Illustration: Fig. 97.]
Silver crosses, it has several times been observed, have been
discovered with the recent deposits in the mounds. The accompanying
engraving illustrates their general form. Some are considerably
larger and heavier than that here represented; one found near
Chillicothe weighed not less than one and a half ounces. They will
readily be recognised as of European origin. The enterprising
French passed frequently through the Mississippi valley, from a
very early day, and maintained a constant intercourse with the
natives, distributing amongst them vast numbers of these crosses,
brooches, and other ornaments of silver; which, in accordance with
the aboriginal custom, were buried with the possessor at his death.
Numbers of these relics have been found in the mounds and Indian
graves of the South. They are perhaps oftener composed of brass than
of silver.
The instance first mentioned, it is believed, is the only one in
which silver has been found in the mounds under such circumstances
as to establish conclusively that it pertained to the builders. It
is clear that, so far as the specimens here obtained are concerned,
they did not understand the art of «plating», in the proper meaning
of the term. They had taken but the first step towards it. That art
is certainly one which follows, instead of preceding, the knowledge
of welding and of working metals through the assistance of fire,
which knowledge does not seem to have been possessed by them. Their
acquaintance with metallurgy appears to have been confined to working
the native metals in a cold state; in which, it must be admitted,
they evinced considerable skill. Further than this, little can be
claimed for them.
[Illustration: Fig. 98.]
From the presence of «galena» in the mounds, it seems almost
impossible that the builders could have been ignorant of the
manufacture of lead. None of that metal has, however, been discovered
under such circumstances as to place it beyond doubt that they were
acquainted with it. A rude article, of pure lead, of the following
form, and weighing about half a pound, was discovered, not long
since, in sinking a well within the trench of the ancient works at
Circleville. It was found about two feet [p209] below the surface,
and was thickly encrusted with a carbonate. We shall not undertake
to ascribe a date to it. Upon one of the altars within a mound in
“Mound City,” (see page 149,) a quantity of galena was found. It had
been exposed, in common with all articles found on the altars, to
the action of fire, which had not, however, been sufficiently strong
to reduce it, though some pieces seem to have been partially fused.
Perhaps it may have been prized only for its brilliancy, and finally
deposited, with other articles of use or ornament, as an offering.
FOOTNOTES:
[131] RIBAULDE, who visited the shores of Florida in 1562, speaks of
a chief who “had hanging about his neck a round plate of red copper
well polished, with one other lesser one of silver, in the midst of
it, and at his ear a little plate of copper wherewith they use to
stripe the swete from theyer bodyes.” Sir WALTER RALEIGH mentions,
that the tribes, with which he held communication on the shores
of North Carolina, wore copper plates on their heads, which were
badges of authority and indicated the chiefs. These plates were so
highly polished that they were, at first, mistaken for gold. It is
not impossible that those found in the mounds were worn in a like
manner by the ancient people. The one described in the text was found
beneath the head of the skeleton with which it was buried.
[132] Dr. DRAKE, in his “«View of Cincinnati»,” describes several
ornaments or instruments found in a mound at Cincinnati, which are
somewhat analogous to those described in the text, if not identical
with them. “Several copper articles were discovered, each consisting
of two sets of circular, concavo-convex plates; the interior one of
each set connected with the other by a hollow axis, around which had
been wound some lint.” Articles, answering to this description, were
found, a few years since, in removing a mound on Paint creek, ten
miles distant from Chillicothe. In this case, we are assured by the
individual who discovered them, that the axis was wound round with a
well-twisted and compact thread, resembling fine linen pack-thread,
which was stained green by the salts of the copper, to which its
preservation is entirely attributable. It is possible that some of
the larger discs, above described, were originally thus connected.
[p210]